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5 undefeated teams remain as we head into week 4 of the NFL season. I went 9-7 a week ago, bringing my season total to 26-22.

Bye Week: Philadelphia and Green Bay

Thursday Night Football

Dolphins @ Bengals: Miami barely squeaked by the Browns last week, while the Bengals were beat down by the defending champs at home. The Dolphins got a big day from Jarvis Landry, but inconsistency continues to plague Ryan Tannehill, who threw a pick six in the win. Cincinnati got their running game going, but still lost to 1-2 for the first time in five years. After two very good weeks, Andy Dalton couldn’t do much against the Broncos defense. I like the Bengals at home with another good rushing game to get their second win of the season. CINCINNATI WINS

Sunday Morning Football

Colts @ Jaguars: London here they come! Indianapolis got their first win of the season last week, while Jacksonville is still looking for theirs. Andrew Luck has the uncanny ability to turn a bad day into a big day passing the ball, but the Jaguars defense isn’t the problem so far, so he’ll need help. Blake Bortles on the other hand, has been pretty awful for Jacksonville in his third year under center. So what happens this weekend across the pond? Give me a cleaner day from Luck to lift the Colts. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Bills @ Patriots: Three different quarterbacks have started for New England, but that hasn’t stopped the winning. And as for the Bills, they got their first win over a team many think, myself included, are a playoff team destined for a deep run. Both teams got big two-touchdown games out of their number 1 running backs, so look for another day of running the clock. The Patriots have to get through one more week without Tom Brady, and while they’ve done a great job doing so, and are very, very good at home, I’m taking the road team in this one. BUFFALO WINS

Titans @ Texans: It was a very bad week for Houston, who not only lost their Thursday game versus New England 27-0, they learned that JJ Watt re-injured his back and will be out the rest of the year. Tennessee’s week wasn’t much better, as they scored just 10 points in their loss to Oakland. Both teams enter action having scored the same amount of points through 3 games, but of course that’s skewed with the Texans O-fer last weekend. Marcus Mariota and Brock Osweiler have both thrown 4 interceptions so far this season, so whoever can limit mistakes has the edge. A Titans win puts them in a tie for the division early. But I don’t think they get it, because I like the Texans skill position players better. HOUSTON WINS

Lions @ Bears: The Lions are 1-2, but haven’t struggled in the passing game, as Matthew Stafford has found a new weapon in Marvin Jones after Calvin Johnson called it a career in the off-season. The silver lining there for the 0-3 Bears is that their defense has actually done okay against the pass so far this season. Chicago got a pretty good game out of Brandon Hoyer, who finished 30-49 for 317 yards, though most of that came with the game out of hand already. Both teams have the ability to get the points in the air, and with two middling defenses, that shouldn’t be a problem. So this game will be won in the trenches, and the edge there lies with the Lions. DETROIT WINS

Panthers @ Falcons: Carolina is another team I thought would have a great season, but has disappointed so far. Thanks to the struggles of the Panthers and the rest of the NFC South, Atlanta finds themself atop the division early on in the season. This dispite allowing 31, 28 and 32 points in their first three games. The Falcons may not be getting sustained success in their ground game early, they are getting it when it counts. Tevin Coleman has just 110 yards on the ground, but has 4 rushing touchdowns, including 3 on Sunday in New Orleans. Carolina entered action red-hot at home dating back to 2014, but we shut down by a red-hot Vikings defense a week ago. I still believe in the Panthers defense, and as hot as Atlanta has been, I think Carolina gets the win on the road.CAROLINA WINS

Seahawks @ Jets: The good news for Jets fans? Ryan Fitzpatrick can only be better than he was a week ago. The bad news? He has to be a lot better against the top defense in the league. After scoring just 3 points against L.A. in week 2, the Seahawks exercised some demons putting up 37 against the Niners. Russell Wilson was hobbled in the game, but still managed to leave with a nice lead. Big games from Christine Michael and Doug Baldwin helped get the offense back on track. New York can solace in the fact that they have had a pretty good run game all season, and while some of it came in garbage time, Seattle did allow the Niners to get over 130 yards on the ground, finding pay dirt twice. This shouldnt be as ugly for the Jets as it was last week, but it will still be a loss. SEATTLE WINS

Raiders @ Ravens: Baltimore finds itself among the undefeated teams heading into week 4, in large part thanks to their defense and a good day from kicker Justin Tucker. The Ravens are second in total defense through 3 weeks of play. Their opponents won their 2nd game by forcing three turnovers, with a sack after entering week 3 having allowed the Saints and Falcons to walk all over them. So based on defenses, Baltimore should have an easy win. But I actually like Oakland’s offense a lot more, and as someone who thinks this is a playoff team, I’ll take the Raiders in the upset. OAKLAND WINS

Browns @ Redskins: Cleveland should’ve gotten their first win of the season in Miami a week ago, but an inability to stop the air attack, and three missed field goals left them at 0-3. They gave themselves a shot, but couldn’t take it. Cody Kessler’s first career start wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t very good for Cleveland, though at this point, coming out healthy is huge for the Browns. Washington did get their first win, taking down the Giants on the road. After a couple lackluster offensive weeks, Kirk Cousins let it loose and got a number of big plays in the passing game to help get that first win and move back in the right direction to defend their NFC East title. So can the Browns get their first win this week? Yes. Will they? I don’t think so. They stayed in last week thanks to mistakes by Tannehill, but Cousins won’t make those same mistakes. WASHINGTON WINS

Sunday 4/425PM Games

Broncos @ Buccaneers: The Superbowl Champs are showing no signs of slowing down as they look to start the season 4-0. Denver got off to a slow start last week against the Bengals, but came on strong late thanks to a big day from rookie quarterback Trevor Siemian. Siemian threw four touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter for the win. Not to be outdone, the Broncos are a top flight defense that held down Andy Dalton and their rushing attack. They’ve got another tough test when they take on Jameis Winston this weekend. The Bucs 2nd year quarterback is tied for the league lead in touchdown passes so far with 8, though he has thrown six picks to. It won’t be a blowout, none of Denver’s games really have been, but it will be another win for the Broncos. DENVER WINS

Rams @ Cardinals: I’m shocked at the start the Cardinals are having at just 1-2. Carson Palmer has had a bad TD-turnover ratio through 3 weeks. Arizona isn’t getting quite out of David Johnson on the ground, while their defense is allowing the 5th most rushing yards per game. This is as good a week as any to get back to what they want to do in all phases as they take on their division rival Rams, who find themselves tied atop the division at 2-1. Los Angeles has rebounded nicely from a shutout on opening day, winning their last two games. The Rams tend to play up or down to their opponents, evident by a 9-3 home win over Seattle and a 37-32 shootout on the road in Tampa Bay. Going off those results, I’ll take the Cardinals at home in what should be a close game throughout between these two West foes. ARIZONA WINS

Cowboys @ Niners: Dallas couldn’t have asked for more from rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot through three weeks. The Tony Romo-less Cowboys were a game-winning field-goal away from being 3-0 right now. Dez Bryant has a hairline fracture in his knee but is still expected to play this weekend. San Francisco was manhandled in week 3, and still isn’t making a change back to Colin Kaepernick. The biggest thing the Niners have going for them is Carlos Hyde has looked pretty good. I like what the Caowboys have done this season, but I have a feeling about San Fran this week. It might be a bad feeling, but I’m rolling with it.SAN FRANCISCO WINS

Saints @ Chargers: It’s still early, but the Saints need to start picking up some wins quickly if they want to make the playoffs as I predicted they would as a wildcard team in the NFC. The offense hasn’t been the problem. Drew Brees is already over a 1,000 yards passing, with an 8-1 touchdown to interception ratio, though that one interception last week was a fourth quarter pick six for Brees. New Orleans defense hasn’t been been able to stop anyone, as they’ve allowed the 2nd most total yards. Worst at stopping the run, that’s where the Chargers will need to take advantage this week. But without Danny Woodhead, San Diego needs Melvin Gordon to get going, so this is the perfect opportunity for that. I like Philip Rivers, but I like Drew Brees more. Give me the road team to get win number 1 this week. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Sunday Night Football

Chiefs @ Steelers: What a defensive performance put on by the Chiefs this past week! Two defensive touchdowns and six interceptions helped Kansas City get the easy win over the Jets. The offense wasn’t great, but they didn’t need to be with that showing on defense. Alex Smith continued to show his game management skills, and why Travis Kelce is one of the better tight ends in the league right now. They’ve got a desperate Steelers team thsi week, who didn’t score a touchdown in a week 3 beatdown by the Eagles. After two very good weeks, DeAngelo Williams was stymied on the ground, so the rushing attack will gladly welcome back Le’Veon Bell from suspension this week. The biggest test for the Kansas City defense will be stopping Antonio Brown, but I don’t think it will matter much even if he does have a big day. KANSAS CITY WINS

Monday Night Football

Giants @ Vikings: This should be a battle of two unbeatens, but a late game collapse left the Giants at 2-1 heading into today. Too many penalties, a couple late turnovers and allowing Washington to open up the field multiple times led to the home loss for New York. They lost Shane Vereen to a triceps injury as well. Eli Manning and company need to do more in the passing game, and they have the capability with three wide receivers. The bad news for New York is that the Vikings are running on all cylinders right now. Their defense has been relentless through three weeks, and despite losing starting QB Teddy Bridgewater before the season started, the offense has been very good. Sam Bradford has come in and fit in better in two weeks then he’s done in the first few seasons of his career. It’s going to be tough for the Giants on the road, but I like New York will figure things out and get back in the win column. NEW YORK WINS

We’ve reached week 3 of the season, and still have 8 undefeated and 8 winless teams. There have also been a lot of big injuries early that will have a big impact on week 3 and beyond. As for my picks, I’m 18-14 through 2 weeks. Here’s what I’m thinking going into week 3.

Thursday Night Football

Texans @ Patriots: Jimmy Garoppolo left with a shoulder injury for New England, who still managed to move to 2-0. This was thanks in large part to Garoppolo’s 3 touchdown passes before his injury as well as a big performance from LeGarrett Blount in the run game. The Texans took down the Chiefs on the strength of their defense to move to 1-1, a stark difference from their 33-0 loss to Kansas City in the playoffs. Without Garoppolo, I think the Texans will do enough to get another win to start off the week 3 action. HOUSTON WINS

Sunday 1pm Games

Ravens @ Jaguars: Baltimore got very lucky in week 2, as they overcame a 20-0 1st quarter deficit to improve to 2-0. Cleveland never scored again, while Joe Flacco brought his team back with a 25-45, 302 yard performance. Their opponents have been disappointing to me so far. While I didn’t think the Jaguars were going to make the playoffs this season, I thought they’d be better than they’ve shown, starting 0-2 again after They crossed midfield only six times and committed three turnovers. BALTIMORE WINS

Lions @ Packers: Both teams enter 1-1 after losing in week 2, and are looking to keep pace with the 2-0 Vikings. The Packers lost their game in the 4th quarter, turning the ball over twice, while allowing Rodgers to be sacked 5 times. Detroit also lost their game in the 4th quarter when they were outscored 13-0 by the Titans, including a 93-yard game winning drive. The Lions didn’t have a go to back in week 2, losing Ameer Abdullah to an injury. So who gets back in the win column this week? I’ll take the Packers at home with a much-needed big day from Eddie Lacy. GREEN BAY WINS

Redskins @ Giants: Washington won the NFC East a year ago, but have opened up this season 0-2. Struggles in the red zone and an inability to force turnovers meant a loss in a back-and-forth affair with Dallas last week. New York’s offense moved up and down the field pretty easily on Sunday, but also struggled in the redzone, and had too many turnovers in the 1st half. But the defense and special teams stepped up and they moved to 2-0. So who takes this division matchup? Give me the home team to get over their redzone struggles and take advantage of Eli Manning’s league leading completion percentage, which should be even better as the Giants receiving core dropped at least 5 balls in week 2. NEW YORK WINS

Browns @ Dolphins: For the 5th week in a row (dating back to last season), Cleveland will be starting a different QB. Someone should tell them this isn’t baseball, there’s no starting rotation in football. Even with the QB carousel, the Browns almost, and should have, pulled out their first win in week 2. They were up 20-2 on the Ravens, thanks in big part to their ground attack, but fell late. Miami isn’t in any better a position than their week 3 opponents, as they enter action at 0-2 as well. The Dolphins were down big early to the Pats, but made a comeback after Jimmy Garoppolo went down with an injury. Cleveland will be in this game until the end because Miami has had issues stopping the run early. But even of Isaiah Crowell goes big on the ground, I still think they pull out the win at home. MIAMI WINS

Vikings @ Panthers: Minnesota will now be without their starting QB and running back for the rest of the season after Adrian Peterson went down in their game on Sunday night. The Vikings defense looked stong against Aaron Rogers in week 2. As for Carolina, they rebounded offensively in week 2, but they still struggled a bit on defense, allowing the Niners to score 27. They’ll be without their running back Jonathan Stewart, but were picked up by Fozzy Whittaker on the ground. Despite the 27 points allowed, I like the Panthers chances of stopping Sam Bradford and the new Vikings weapon and league receiving yards leader Stefon Diggs. CAROLINA WINS

Broncos @ Bengals: Andy Dalton has gotten off to a nice start this season, leading the league with 732 passing yards, so here’s a good test for the Broncos league leading defense. CJ Anderson is having a good start to the season, and we’ve seen the Bengals give up the most rushing yards per game to start the season, so he should be able to help eat a lot of clock for Denver. DENVER WINS

Cardinals @ Bills: Arizona rebounded from a tough week 1 loss by handily beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Cardinals led the league in total offense, while the Bills dropped to 0-2 despite putting up 31 points of their own in week 2. Buffalo has let their offensive coordinator go, so they really need this game. Too bad I don’t think they’ll get it. Look for a big game from running back Daniel Johnson. ARIZONA WINS

Raiders @ Titans: Oakland has not been able to stop anyone through two weeks, something I wasn’t expecting, allowing 70 points so far. Tennessee has actually done a very nice job on defense. Both teams are 1-1 heading into this game, but I still like the Raiders better. The Titans offense hasn’t shown the big play ability the Raiders have, so Oakland should be able to hold them down better than they did with New Orleans and Atlanta. OAKLAND WINS

Sunday 4/425pm Games

Rams @ Buccaneers: LA’s defense showed up in week 2, Tampa’s did not. The difference between these two teams is the offense. While the Bucs went from scoring 4 TDs to 1, I feel more confident about their offense than the Rams, who have scored just 9 points in two games. The best chance the Rams have is if their defense can do what it did a week ago, and good game out of Todd Gurley. That being said, I’ll take the home team in this one. TAMPA BAY WINS

49ers @ Seahawks: This is a big (albeit early) NFC West battle between two 1-1 teams. San Francisco followed up a surprise week 1 win with a defensive breakdown against Carolina. Seattle had one of their worst offensive games in this recent stretch of Superbowl quality teams, scoring just a field goal against the L.A. Rams. I can’t see the Seahawks being held down again, especially by the Niners. Russell Wilson should be able to dominate in this one. SEATTLE WINS

Steelers @ Eagles: I never thought this would be a game where both teams have a chance to move to 3-0, but here we are. DeAngelo Williams has been huge for Pittsbrgh in the abscense of Le’Veon Bell, who is out one more week due to suspension. Philadelphia has gotten about as good as you can ever hope to from a rookie quarterback in Carson Wentz, who hasn’t turned the ball over yet. It should be a good game, but I will go with the experience in this one.PITTSBURGH WINS

Jets @ Chiefs: Two teams I picked to make the playoffs in the AFC face off in Kansas City this weekend. New York picked up their first win last week, thanks to the offense. Off-season acquisition Matt Forte finished with 100 yards rushing, and three rushing touchdowns. Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall both finished with 100 receiving yards as well. The Jets defense wasn’t as impressive as it was week 1. The Chiefs hope that’s the case again this week, as they couldn’t get much of anything started against Houston. A lot went right for New York last week, and I can’t see them doing quite that well against Kansas City’s defense as they did against Buffalo. If this were a home game for the Jets I might choose differently, but it’s a home game for the Chiefs, so I’ll go with them this week. KANSAS CITY WINS

Chargers @ Colts: San Diego is 2-0, Indianapolis is 0-2. I really thought that the Colts would be able to do better than they have on defense, but they haven’t. San Diego has looked very good on offense to start this season, Indy has been very up and down. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

Sunday Night Football

Bears @ Cowboys: Chicago is 0-2 despite holding early leads in both week 1 and week 2. And now they’ll be without starting quarterback Jay Cutler due to a thumb injury. Their best hope to beat the Cowboys is to continue limiting the passing game, as the Bears rank 4th in the NFL allowing 224 yards a game. As for Dallas, they picked up their first win thanks to another clean day from Dak Prescott and a big night on the ground. The Boys were already a better team than the Bears before the Cutler injury, so give me Dallas at home to move to 2-1. DALLAS WINS

Monday Night Football

Falcons @ Saints: Atlanta picked up their first win against an impressive Raiders team in week 2, while New Orleans dropped to 0-2 after a game winning field goal by the Giants. Atlanta hasn’t had any problems scoring this season, but their defense has struggled at times. New Orleans’ defense was much better in week 2, forcing 3 turnovers, but it wasn’t enough. I picked the Saints to make the playoffs, so this is a huge game for them. If they want to get their first win, they have to figure out how to run the ball. The Falcons tend to be very inconsistent, so give me New Orleans at home in a shootout. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Week 1 sure didn’t disappoint. We had a ton of close games, a few massive comebacks and plenty of big performances.

The Broncos showed why they are the defending champs, the Patriots showed they are all about the next man up and the Raiders offense made us all pay attention. Over in the NFC, we learned that Jordy Nelson doesn’t take long to get back into the flow after an injury, Victor Cruz can still get past defenders and into the end-zone, and that Jameis Winston can score with the best of them.

I went 8-8 for my week 1 picks. Here’s to hoping week 2 goes better.

Thursday Night Football

Jets @ Bills: In both teams first division game, it’s a battle to avoid an 0-2 start. Both teams had impressive defensive showings in week 1. The Jets were able to get to Andy Dalton for a record 7 sacks thanks to a big day from their defensive line. Darrelle Revis was exploited by A.J. Green like few others have been able to in the corner’s 10-year career. Buffalo held Baltimore to one touchdown, and not much on the ground. New York was hurt by missed PAT and FG from the usually on-point Nick Folk and a late Ryan Fitzpatrick interception. So which team should feel better about their chances in week 2? I like the Jets to fix their little mistakes on offense this week. NEW YORK WINS

Sunday 1pm Games

Saints @ Giants: If there’s one thing we learned in week 1, it’s that the Saints defense isn’t much better than last season, while the Giants defense finally learned to limit damage. New York shouldn’t be happy about allowing the Cowboys to dominate time of possession, but Big Blue should be very excited about how their wide receiving core looked. Victor Cruz scored his first touchdown since 2014, rookie wideout Sterling Shepard got his first and Odell Beckham Jr. took pressure off both. The game-winning drive for New York featured solid offensive line play they’ve desperately lacked the past couple of seasons. New Orleans had no issues on offense in week 1, with Drew Brees throwing 4 touchdowns. Oakland took that game with a late drive and two-point conversion on the road, leaving a hungry Saints team looking to avoid an 0-2 start. Last year’s match-up between these two meant 101 combined points. While I don’t think it will get that bad this time around, it could still be a shootout. Obviously, I liked what the Giants did a lot more in week 1 than the Saints, but I can’t see an 0-2 start for this Saints team. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Titans @ Lions: Detroit’s offense looked very good in week 1. The defense struggled in the second half, blowing a 21 point lead only to hold on in the end for a 1-0 start. Tennessean saw signs of life from DeMarco Murray on offense, but allowed Minnesota to score not one, but two defensive touchdowns. The Lions definitely hold the edge in offense heading into week 2, but I don’t think Detroit can replicate that again. Look for Marcus Mariota to have a big day. TENNESSEE WINS

Cowboys @ Redskins: One team lost by a point at home in week 1, the other got beat down. Dallas had a shot to get rookie QB Dak Prescott a win in his debut, but time management cost them a shot at a game-winning field goal. Washington looked pretty good defensively early against Pittsburgh on Monday night, then Antonio Brown showed up. The Cowboys were able to eat up a lot of clock Sunday, and the way the Skins played the run against Pittsburgh, Dallas can absolutely do that again. Washington’s run game gained less than 60 yards. That’ll be the difference. DALLAS WINS

Chiefs @ Texans: Both teams come into this match-up at 1-0, but with work to do. Slow starts could’ve doomed both in their first games, but things got going late. Brock Osweiler led the Texans on a 23-0 run after spotting the Bears 14 early. KC had to come back from down 21-0 and get the win in overtime. At least both teams know they can comeback from an early deficit? If Houston wants to win this game, they need another big day from Lamar Miller. While I absolutely think they can get that big day, I think the Chiefs are simply the better team. Alex Smith had one of his best games, without needing to run the ball like he is known to do. KANSAS CITY WINS

Dolphins @ Patriots: No Tom Brady? No Rob Gronkowski? No problem. Jimmy Garoppolo showed his game management skills in their week 1 win over the Cards. The Pats won the battle of special teams, as Stephen Gostkowskiwent 3-f0r-3 on field goals, including a 53-yard footer, while the Cards missed a potential game winner with 41 seconds to go. Miami was able to stand pat against the Seahawks in week 1, putting together a masterful 86-yard touchdown drive to take a lead in the fourth quarter. But they fell anyway. NEW ENGLAND WINS

Ravens @ Browns: Baltimore’s defense was at a peak level it hasn’t been at in years in week 1. That being said, the Ravens offense wasn’t very impressive, though give credit to Tennessee there. Joe Flacco was sharp throwing the ball, and got his team into the red zone four times. Cleveland is already on quarterback number 2 after Robert Griffin went down in his Browns debut. As if that wasn’t bad enough in week 1, the Browns couldn’t stop Carson Wentz, who they passed on in the draft. Whoever said the curse was broken in Cleveland after the Cavs win wasn’t looking broadly enough. Cleveland needs to establish the run in week 2 if they have any shot of winning, and even then I don’t think it’ll be enough. BALTIMORE WINS

Niners @ Panthers: The team entering this match-up 1-0 isn’t the team I thought would be doing so. San Francisco laid the goose egg on the Rams in week 1, while the Panthers lost a heart-breaker to the defending champs. As good as the Niners looked Sunday night, they still aren’t in the same league as this Carolina team, and there is no way the team I tabbed for a Superbowl this season starts 0-2, especially with this game taking place at home. Blaine Gabbert won’t have it so easy in week 2. CAROLINA WINS

Bengals @ Steelers: Cincinnati escaped week 1 with a road win in New York in a back-and-forth affair. Then, the Steelers rebounded from a slow start to take an easy one from the Skins. Both teams got huge performances from their number 1 wide receivers, meaning the game comes down to the ground and pound. DeAngelo Williams made up for the lack of Le’Veon Bell and then some. So who gets this first AFC North win? Give me the black and yellow in week 2. PITTSBRUGH WINS

Sunday 4/425pm Games

Buccaneers @ Cardinals: Jameis Winston had his best game as a pro. And Tampa’s defense did a great job stopping the run against Atlanta, but need to figure out how to stop the big plays. As for the Cardinals, they fell late to the Patriots on a field-goal. What gives in week 2? I love this Arizona squad. Larry Fitzgerald looks amazing. It took them some time to get going in week 1, but I think they can get going earlier at home against this Bucs defense and get their 1st win of the season. ARIZONA WINS

Seahawks @ Rams: Seattle escaped week 1 with a win on the strength of their defense. L.A. on the other hand, looked like the worst team in the league by far. They couldn’t stop a Niners offense that wasn’t expected to do much this season, while their own offense looked lost. Last year, the Rams seemed to play up to their competition or down to them, so they could look a bit better this week. But I also don’t expect the Seahawks to look so bad on offense again this week. SEATTLE WINS

Falcons @ Raiders: Atlanta has missed the playoffs the last two seasons, and their defense did little to reassure their fans that this wouldn’t be a third straight. Scoring has never been the Falcons’ problem, but if they can’t get the run game going this week, they’re in trouble. The Raiders showed why a lot of people (myself included) have tabbed them to make the postseason this year. They can score with anyone, and no one believes that more than head coach Jack del Rio who went for two late to give the team a 1-point win on the road. The Falcons have to control the clock or the Raiders will put them in an 0-2 hole.OAKLAND WINS

Jaguars @ Chargers: I was impressed with both of these teams in week 1. Both teams lost, but they held their own against two of the league’s best teams (Green Bay and Kansas City). The big play ability of the Jags defense will keep them in most games offensively. San Diego got a big game on the ground, but the defense let up big time in the 2nd half. This could be a high scoring game, but I like Jags on the road. JACKSONVILLE WINS

Colts @ Broncos: Andrew Luck woke up big time in the 2nd half last season, but the defense left a lot to be desired. Denver looked strong coming off their Superbowl win, doing big things on the ground with C.J. Anderson. Indianapolis isn’t facing quite the QB that Matthew Stafford is, and while I liked this Colts team coming into the season, give me another win for the Broncos this week. DENVER WINS

Sunday Night Football

Packers @ Vikings: The Packers looked good last week, getting Jordy Nelson back into the flow of the offense right away. Minneosta pulled out a week 1 win thanks to their defense scoring two touchdowns against the Titans. Adrian Peterson was stuffed by a lesser front than the Packers. Sure it’s a division game, which is always tougher no matter if there is a talent gap. But with Green Bay getting Nelson going so quickly is bad news for the Vikings. I like the Pack to get to 2-0. GREEN BAY WINS

Monday Night Football

Eagles @ Bears: Carson Wentz didn’t look like a rookie in week one, while veteran Jay Cutler got shut out in the 2nd half to drop his first of the season. I don’t particularly like either one of these teams, and while Jay Cutler can put up big numbers, I feel like the Bears don’t have many big play makers right now. It won’t be as easy for the Eagles this week as it was last week, but I still think they’ll pull this one out. PHILADELPHIA WINS

Another year is upon us! The Denver Broncos are the reigning World Champions, and look to repeat with a brand new man under center with the retirement of Peyton Manning. Nope, not Brock Osweiler. And no it’s not Mark Sanchez either. Another AFC powerhouse in the New England Patriots will also be without their future hall-of-fame quarterback as Tom Brady serves a four game suspension. Absences and shakeups at the top means a lot can change from last season’s playoff picture. My team to watch this season will be the Oakland Raiders.

For me, the NFC is where the powerhouses will be in the in the 2016-2017 season. Carolina is fresh off a Superbowl loss, but were able to keep together their core. Arizona and Seattle will be there once again in an absolutely loaded NFC West. Green Bay gets back one of their biggest weapons in Jordy Nelson to go along with what the Packers hope is a reinvigorated Eddie Lacy at running back. And not to be forgotten are Superbowl vets like Drew Brees and Eli Manning who are looking to regain control of their respective divisions.

NFC Playoff Teams AFC Playoff Teams

Cardinals Chiefs

Panthers Bengals

Packers Broncos

Giants Colts

Seahawks Jets

Saints Raiders

NFC Championship

Cardinals @ Panthers: CAROLINA WINS

AFC Championship

Bengals @ Chiefs: KANSAS CITY WINS

Superbowl XLI

Panthers vs Chiefs: CAROLINA WINS

Now that I’ve gotten ahead of myself, here are my week 1 predictions.

Thursday Night Football

Panthers @ Broncos: The season kicks off with a rematch of Superbowl XL. Denver will raise their banner, and get their first look at Trevor Siemian at QB. Cam Newton and company will begin their quest to get back to the Superbowl. The Panthers have put the big loss behind them, and with their core still in tact, they are better prepared for a run than Denver is for their title defense. The Broncos will still be good, especially if CJ Anderson can continue to grow in the run game. But I like the Panthers to get the win this time around. CAROLINA WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Buccaneers @ Falcons: The battle for the South gets going quickly with a Bucs team with ambitions of not finishing last in their division, and a Falcons team looking to get back to the playoffs. This is going to be a shoot out with two great offenses going head-to-head. I simply have more trust in Atlanta during the regular season right now, so I’ll take their defense to make the big stop down the stretch over Tampa Bay. ATLANTA WINS

Bills @ Ravens: I see both of these teams being better than they were last season, but not by much. Buffalo has a higher ceiling right now, especially if Tyrod Taylor can figure out his fumbling problem. He makes pretty good decisions in the passing game, should get more out of LeSean McCoy this season and has a defense capable for being near the top of the league. Joe Flacco won’t be without back Justin Forsett, who led the team in rushing the past two season, as previously thought since he has re-signed after being cut days ago. Beyond that, I’m not a fan of the Ravens offense past Mike Wallace and Steve Smith Sr. I’m going with the AFC in this one. BUFFALO WINS

Bears @ Texans: Chicago finished last season in the cellar of the NFC North, while Houston won the AFC South. I see little evidence to suggest the Bears can get back into relevancy this season, while I think the Texans will lose the division to the Colts once again. The Bears let Matt Forte walk, as well as the franchise leader in scoring, kicker Robbie Gould. Houston is expected to have their defensive weapon in JJ Watt ready to go, so expect Jay Cutler to feel the pressure all day. HOUSTON WINS

Browns @ Eagles: Both teams will have new starting quarterbacks this season. Former rookie of the year Robert Griffin III gets a fresh start with Cleveland, while actual rookie Carson Wentz will become the first rookie to start week 1 in Eagles history (ELIAS). The Browns were bottom 10 in total defense and offense last season, resulting in a 3-13 record. Philly hopes their new QB and another year with DeMarco Murray will help get them over the .500 mark and challenge in the East. Opening at home with these pieces means a week 1 win for the birds. PHILADELPHIA WINS

Raiders @ Saints: Week 1 features a matchup of two teams I think will make the playoffs this season. The Saints defense wasn’t anything to write home about a season ago, allowing at least 20 points in every game but two (17 allowed in each of those). But Drew Brees had another stellar year, leading the league in passing yards. New Orleans parted ways with the team’s all-time leader in TD receptions, Marques Colston, but expect big things from Mark Ingram. Oakland gets another year of Derek Carr and Amari Cooper doing big things in the pass attack. A lot of moves on defense in the offseason has the Raiders poised for a big season. That being said, I like the Saints in a tight one at home. But I will not be surprised at all if Oakland steals one at the Superdome either. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Chargers @ Chiefs: Kansas City’s offense never really looks pretty on paper after Jamaal Charles, but they continue to make it work. Their defense is one of the league’s best and that will carry them again this season. The opposite can be said for San Diego. Philip Rivers has a very good group of pass catchers that should give the Chargers a chance in every game. Their consistency is always questionable on defense, and in a tough AFC West, they’ll need to figure that out. I really like the Chiefs this season, they return a lot of key pieces off a second round playoff appearance last year. KANSAS CITY WINS

Bengals @ Jets: Here’s another game with two teams I think will see the postseason. New York hopes their run game will be revitalized with the acquisition of Matt Forte, while getting even more out of Ryan Fitzpatrick than they did a year ago. I’ve said it before, but it’s time for the Bengals to take the next step. There’s some concern that Cincinnati is lacking depth at defensive end, but they’ve been able to dominate defensively in the past, and I think they can figure it out. It won’t be easy, but I like the Bengals to get a road win off the jump. CINCINNATI WINS

Packers @ Jaguars: Aaron Rodgers has his favorite target in Jordy Nelson back. If he can get 2013-14 Eddie Lacy back, look out for the Packers once again. Jacksonville’s offense took a step in the right direction last year, and they were much better at home. But while the Jaguars are still a few pieces away, the Packers are primed to make a deep run through the NFC once again. GREEN BAY WINS

Vikings @ Titans: Coming into the season, I thought this was going to be a very good game against two teams looking to prove themselves. Minnesota is coming off a playoff year where they lost to Seattle in the Wildcard round… by one point at home. Tennessee on the other hand are coming off a 3-13 season in which they won their first two games. Offense wasnt exactly their issue, with the 2nd ranked running game. But losing Marcus Mariota didn’t help. I really like the Vikings, but losing Teddy Bridgewater before the start of the season is tough, and now they look to Sam Bradford to keep them afloat in an always competitve NFC North. Give me the Titans on the ground with a healthy Mariota in week 1. TENNESSEE WINS

Sunday 4/425PM Games

Dolphins @ Seawhawks: Miami was one of the more disappointing teams a season ago. They spent a lot of money on defense in the off-season leading up to last year, and it didn’t do much. The Dolphins allowed the second most yards a game in the AFC. Add a bottom 10 offense, and you can see why they finished below .500 and last in the East. Miami is a case of just hoping their talent will come together all at once (sound familiar with Miami teams?). Seattle had another good season in 2015, though they didn’t look great in the playoffs after two straight Superbowl appearances. They lost Marshawn Lynch, but return most of their stars on offense and always have the Legion of Boom to fall back on. This should be one of the easier wins of week 1 for the Hawks. SEATTLE WINS

Giants @ Cowboys: If ever there was a year for the New York Giants to run through the NFC East, it’s this one. Even in their Superbowl seasons they couldn’t win the division. But with Tony Romo out, and two rookies starting in Dallas and Philadelphia, the Skins are the only other team returning their starter from a year ago. Yes, Kirk Cousins got his team to the playoffs last season, but Eli Manning was the best QB in that division last season, and if his defense can at least be middle of the pack, and not dead last, this should be an easy return to the playoffs. Dak Prescott was impressive for Dallas in the preseason, but Big Blue has never had problems playing in the lone star state, and I don’t see it being a problem this season either. NEW YORK WINS

Lions @ Colts:The worst defense in the AFC last season belonged to the Colts. Not having a run game again meant they couldn’t sustain drives the way you’d want to mask that. The hope is veteran back Frank Gore can regain some of his old magic along with keeping Andrew Luck healthy. As for Detroit, they are another case of talent never panning out for an entire season. And with the retirement of Calvin Johnson, the Lions lose their most consistent and explosive weapon. It could be another ugly season in Detroit, while I expect a bounce back from Indy. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

Sunday Night Football

Patriots @ Cardinals: New England starts the season without Tom Brady and defensive end Rob Ninkovich due to suspensions. In an improved AFC East, those 4 games without them could be trouble, especially since im not a fan of their rushing attack. Add a hungry and dangerous Cardinals team, and you’ve got a recipe for a week 1 loss. Arizona’s depth on offense is pretty impressive, and their defense should be really good again. A home win to kick off the season is in the cards for the birds. ARIZONA WINS

Monday Night Football

Steelers @ Redskins: Washington got some help on defense in the off-season acquisition of Josh Norman, but I still don’t think it’s going to be enough. The skins do get a break on defense since Pitt will be without top flight running back Le’Veon Bell who is suspended to start the season. But the Steelers have more than enough big play threats and I don’t know if Kurt Cousins can replicate what he did last season. PITTSBURGH WINS

Rams @ 49ers:Blaine Gabbert gets the starting job in San Francisco as that organization looks to distance itself from off-the-field stories. They open up against a Rams team ready to take the next step. The newly name Los Angeles Rams biggest issue was inconsistency last season, beating the Cardinals and Seahawks, but losing to the Bears at home. They’ve got a top flight running back and a better than average defense. It’s going to be another long season for the Niners. LOS ANGELES WINS

Well that’s it. Time to sit back, relax and wait for kickoff! Enjoy week 1 everyone.

I cannot believe we are here already. 9 weeks down. The playoff picture is starting to take shape.

So who has themselves in prime position, who has work to do and who is on the clock? Here is a breakdown by division of how all 32 teams look midway through the season.

AFC EAST (Remember when we all thought Tom Brady was done?)

New England Patriots (7-2): Since being blown out in week 4, the Pats have won 5 straight, 4 of those by double digits. They made easy work of the of 3 teams that could be in the playoffs, including a 22-point victory over the Broncos last week. Tom Brady is top 5 in passing yards in a season where Rob Gronkowski came in off injury and Julian Edelman was leading the team in receiving yards early. It took a couple weeks for them to figure things out, and now here they are, atop the AFC once again. It’s almost like in the NBA when everyone calls out the Spurs for being too old, and they go and win the championship. Maybe we should stop underestimating Brady and Belichick?

Buffalo Bills (5-3): They’ve lost their top running back, their 2nd back is banged up and yet here they are, fighting for a wild card spot. A big reason why is their defense. They’re 6th in points per game in the league and are a +7 in turnover differential. Add to that a steady progression from rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins to a big play threat, the ability to close out games and decent production from QBs EJ Manuel and Kyle Orton (yes that Kyle Orton). If this team wants to stay in the conversation, they have to continue their strong defensive presence and get Fred Jackson back.

Miami Dolphins (5-3): Ryan Tannehill has taken a step. It’s in the right direction, but I’m not ready to say it’s a step that puts him in the next tier of quarterbacks step yet. His decision making has gotten much better, as has his accuracy, all things you want to see as your franchise starter gets older. Losing Knowshon Moreno was big, but Lamar Miller has done a good job picking up the slack. They find ways to win, and just demolished the once high flying Chargers to the tune of 37-0. Like the Bills, their defense is where they make money, and of the two teams, I think they have a better shot at a wild card spot coming off an 8-8 record a year ago. They’re no worse than a season ago.

New York Jets (1-8): 8 straight losses with no hope on the horizon. Geno Smith is on the bench. Eric Decker hasn’t been the addition they hoped for. Their defense has been awful and the run game has been abandoned. Things are so bad for the Jets that fan put their money together to buy a “Fire Idzik” billboard (their GM). Could Rex Ryan be out at the end of the season? Time will tell, but they’re fighting hard for a very high draft pick, and not the playoffs like I thought they would be this season.

AFC NORTH (Who would’ve thought all these teams would be above .500?)

Cincinnati Bengals (5-2-1): They’ve been inconsistent since coming out of their week 4 by with a record of 3-0. Inconsistency is bad in any sport, but it’s very bad for Cincy this year, as they can’t afford a slip in the only top-to-bottom over .500 division in football. Andy Dalton has shown flashes of deserving the big 6-year $115 million contract he got in the off-season. But again, inconsistency is an issue. Hopefully AJ Green is over his injury issues, because everyone knows how lethal he is in the passing game, and putting a confident Mohammad Sanu, who stepped up for Green in his absence, next to him is huge.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3): 12 TDs in two games. Historic numbers. That’s what Ben Roethlisberger and company have put up of late to get back into the division champion conversation. Pittsburgh is still very inconsistent. They started out 3-3, and despite their 3 game win streak, the Steelers defense is nowhere near the “steal curtain” of old. It’s more like a bead curtain. It’s easy to outscore your opponents, until it’s not. Can they keep it up? Yes. Will they? Who knows.

Cleveland Browns (5-3): So… we all saw this coming right? The Browns are 2 games over .500 despite not getting much from Ben Tate on the ground, an oft injured Jordan Cameron and a QB controversy heading into the season. They’ve been impressive, finding ways to win games late that they would’ve lost in years past. Brian Hoyer has gotten better at late game decision making and has his team looking at winning it’s most games in a while.

Baltimore Ravens (5-4): After looking like they’d turned a corner, Baltimore has lost two straight in the division, finding themselves momentarily in the basement. The positive for this team? They have games left in the division and it’s close, so it won’t take long to jump back into the top. But they can’t be so inconsistent on defense. The offense without Ray Rice hasn’t really skipped a beat, so if they can get some more stops, they will be in it til the end.

AFC SOUTH (Indianapolis is starting to pull away)

Indianapolis Colts (6-3): After an 0-2 start, the Colts have righted the ship in a huge way. Andrew Luck leads the league in passing yards, with a healthy 3,000 plus already! So you wouldn’t be surprised to know they have the best total offense because of it,which has helped cover up their middle of the pack total team defense. Those numbers are a bit skewed at 18 after allowing over 600 total yards to Pittsburgh in week 8, but it is what it is. They already beat Houston once, so in affect have a 3 game lead, and with how they’re playing, I think they’re easily on their way to another division crown.

Houston Texans(4-5): The good news? JJ Watt is a beast and they’ve already doubled their win total from a year ago. The bad news. they are in the same division as the Colts, and Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t the greatest replacement for Matt Schaub, which has led to him being benched in favor of Ryan Mallett. But they are still in the conversation without any real production out of number 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney, so there is room for improvement. Add better days from offensive weapons Arian Foster and Andre Johnson, and I see them hovering around .500 the rest of the way.

Tennessee Titans (2-6): They’re in the bottom third of the league on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football. So frankly, I don’t know how they have two wins (one of which came against Jacksonville). Two of their losses were by a combined 3 points, which shows a lack of late game execution, which reeks of bad coaching and bad personnel. Delanie Walker might be the lone guy that’s having a representative season for Tennessee. And after a 7-9 season a year ago, there was a place for improvement, and they haven’t and look like they won’t even get back to a similar record this year.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8): They’re not good, but I have to give the Jags some credit. They aren’t rolling over on a weekly basis. They took down the Browns for their first win in wee 7. Things weren’t made easy for the Bengals and Dolphins following that win. Denard Robinson has proven to be a very good starting running back and Blake Bortles has shown some glimpses as the 4th pick in the 2014 draft. So while the record will again put them in the running for a top pick, there are at least signs of talent at skill positions in Jacksonville.

AFC WEST (Denver might start to run away with this one)

Denver Broncos (6-2): Peyton Manning is still really good, but even he couldn’t lead his team past the red hot Patriots. But at 6-2, they’re still in prime position to make a deep playoff run despite a very difficult schedule. The difference between last year’s Broncos and this year’s… the defense. A bad showing against New England not withstanding, off-season acquisitions are doing big things for this team on both sides of the football. This offense is so good, Wes Welker is now the 4th option. Think about that. I’m not worried about this team, and even though they haven’t run away with the division, the Chargers have dropped and they can do no worse than tying the season series with both them and the Chiefs.

Kansas City Chiefs (5-3): The defense hasn’t allowed more than 26 points in a game, and that came week 1. Jamal Charles continues to have the ability to break out on any day. Alex Smith isn’t lighting up the stat sheet, but he’s done enough to keep them in the conversation in the division. This team was never going to repeat the 9-0 start from a year ago, but they’ve responded from a slow start, and can still make a play at a wild card spot, if not the division.

San Diego Chargers (5-4): This team was 5-1 and looked like a top 2, top 3 team in the league. Now they’re on a 3-game slid that’s seen them score 3 TDs in the past 8 quarters of football. The defense can’t live up to that, but it’s hard to outscore 35-plus point efforts as well. So if this team wants to get back in the conversation, both sides of the football need to improve and fast.

Oakland Raiders (0-8): They may never win again. This team has yet to show me any reason to ever pick them. Charles Woodson called it early, and it never sparked a fire. They’re the worst team in the league, but could always fall into a win, and could lose that title to a Jets or Jaguars team. But I doubt that happens.

NFC EAST (Is this division really as “strong” as the records suggest?)

Philadelphia Eagles (6-2): They’re well on their way to a possible 2nd straight division crown. But a couple of big injuries in week 9 could derail their Superbowl aspirations. Nick Foles is set to be out 6-8 weeks with a broken collarbone, while DeMeco Ryans is out for the season with a torn Achilles. The latter could prove more costly, as Philly at least has a backup QB in Mark Sanchez who has proven he can help lead a team deep into the playoffs. But if they want to survive the injuries, the run game has to pick up the slack. So this team will only go as far as LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles can run, in conjunction with Sanchez limiting the mistakes.

Dallas Cowboys (6-3): Just when you thought this might be their season, Tony Romo goes down. DeMarco Murray is on a record pace on the round, but with his injury history, how much more can you ask from him? Brandon Weedon wasn’t horrible with Cleveland, but you’re not going far with him either. You’ve got to hope you can get Romo back after the bye week in week 12, while hoping teams like the Packers, Panthers, Seahawks or 49ers don’t get hot and steal a wildcard spot.

New York Giants (3-5): The G-men were feeling good about themselves after a 3-game win streak that saw them score 30-plus to get them above the .500 mark at 3-2. But it’s been downhill from there. Eli Manning hasn’t thrown an interception since week 4, and has just 5 all season. But the injuries are piling up and Manning has no real deep threat. They’ve put themselves behind the 8-ball, but with games left with both the Eagles and Cowboys at home, to go with some softer games in the 2nd half, it’ll be tough, but they don’t have any wiggle room if they want to make a real run for the playoffs.

Washington Redskins(3-6): RGIII came back, for better or worse and it didn’t make them better. The former Rookie of the Year looked slow and out of it in his return, and I didn’t understand bringing him back when they did. Colt McCoy (yes he still exists) looked pretty good and got them a win against Dallas. I would’ve run him out there again. They’re the worst team in the division, even with how banged up the Giants are.

NFC NORTH (This was always going to be a fight between Detroit and Green Bay)

Detroit Lions (6-2): They boast the best team defense in football. You’ve been looking for this team to put all their talent together for a while now, and this seems to be the year, led by the D. But that being said, their offense has been off lately. Calvin Johnson has missed time, the run game isn’t what you want and they’ve played games using their 4th string tight-end. But when your defense is top 5 in rushing and passing defense, it tends to hide offensive question marks. If they can get Megatron healthy, this team is going to be very dangerous in the playoffs.

Green Bay Packers (5-3): They might be in 2nd place, but they’re the best team in this division. Green Bay got off to a slow start, but while defense has carried the current leader, the Pack is a much more balanced team. Aaron Rodgers is an MVP candidate again. And if Eddie Lacy could ever be the consistent threat they need on the ground, I don’t know how you beat this team.

Chicago Bears (3-5): You boast probably the best wide-receiver combination in football to go with a top 5 running back, and yet they find themselves under .500. The defense, aside from allowing a 51 spot to New England in their last game has been pretty good. The issue is on offense, where there is questions of a lack of trust between Jay Cutler and his targets of Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall. And when there is questioning of each other in the media, it’s hard to recover from.

Minnesota Vikings (3-5): considering they lost their starting QB and their All-pro running back early on, Mike Zimmer has his team competing. Even with Matt Cassell and Adrian Peterson, I don’t think this team would be much better than 3-5, but they’ve learned that Teddy Bridgewater is a capable starter. In a tough division like the North, at least they’ve shown they can play with teams outside. Now they just have to figure out how to make games in the division close. And with how bad Chicago looks, finishing 3rd is in the realm of possibility, especially with two left against the Bears.

NFC SOUTH (The most disappointing division in football?)

New Orleans Saints (4-4): It’s been a long trek back to .500 for the Saints after an 1-3 start. Drew Brees’ low is 17 points scored… that on the road against the Cowboys. So the offense has been pretty good. But this team is only going to go as far as the defense. They are very lucky to be in a division having a down year top-to-bottom. Having a game up on Carolina already for me gives them a clear path to the division crown.

Carolina Panthers (3-5-1): So I think their defense forgot how to play… well defense. Carolina finds itself top 3 in points allowed and the bottom 3rd of the league in total yards allowed. Add to that, a banged up Cam Newton, and an offense that finds themselves in similar spots in offense as defense. All ingredients for a below .500 record. And nothing I’ve seen of late has me thinking they can rebound in the second half of the season here.

Atlanta Falcons (2-6): Remember when this was a good team? Yeah, neither do I. A 2-0 start, the Falcons look like the 2013-14 Texans that finished the season on a 14-game skid. You know, minus the loss of a quarterback. Matt Ryan has been healthy, and has had enough weapons to get some wins here. The issue is on defense. Their secondary is basically swiss cheese, and the front 7 isn’t any better. I do think they’ll find a way to win again this season, but it might not be more than once or twice.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7): Ugliness. I thought they’d be a playoff team. Nope. A rotating door at quarterback has shifted back to Josh McCown. Doug Martin looks like he’s never ran a football. The defense is atrocious. Vincent Jackson seems to forget that he’s a load and can out muscle any secondary player. It’s just bad for the Bucs.

NFC WEST (Arizona far atop the hill, just like we all thought… right?)

Arizona Cardinals(7-1): I give you the best team in the NFC, and it’s not really even close. They swept the NFC East that currently holds 2 of the 4 best records in the conference. They survived a couple weeks without their starting quarterback. Not to mention they’re getting healthy and are consistent on both sides of the ball. Arizona’s only real issue is that they still have two match-ups with the defending champs, but with how they’ve played, there’s no reason they shouldn’t at least split with them and maintain their led in the division.

Seattle Seahawks (5-3): For a team that entered the year as defending champs, they look nothing like a team capable of a repeat. Russell Wilson is leading one of the worst passing offenses in football. Marshawn Lynch is a shell of himself. Percy Harvin, a dynamic offensive weapon, was so distracting they traded him for nothing to the Jets. And the Legion of Boom has been disappointing to say the least.

San Francisco 49ers (4-5): This team is a mess. Between off-the-field issues and a lack of a run game to help take pressure of Colin Kaepernick who has his team in the bottom half in passing offense, they find themselves on the outside looking in. Rumors that Jim Harbaugh is leaving don’t help. Their only bright spot is their team defense, ranked 2nd in total yards allowed. What they need is to take advantage of 3 games left with the teams ahead of them, and for Kaepernick to figure some things out offensively, particularly in the red zone.

St. Louis Rams (3-5): I have to give them credit, they don’t quit. They’ve shown glimpses with getting big leads early over the Cowboys and Seahawks, but then they regress to a 3-5 team by losing both of those leads. Now they look to play spoiler (as they did against San Fran this week). Losing your starter just before the season starts is tough. If they could’ve executed better down the stretch of games, they could be in the conversation for 2nd in this division with a down year from the champs and niners.

So if things continue on the track they are, here are my 12 playoff teams as of now:

Steelers @ Ravens: With all the bad press surrounding the Ravens, look for the team on the field to rally together and pick up their first win. Not to mention Pittsburgh was not impressive in their win over the Browns. So give me a defensive struggle ending in a home victory. BALTIMORE WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Dolphins @ Bills: An AFC match-up of two teams I thought would be 0-1 for, yet here we are, with one team set to move to 2-0. Buffalo’s success hinges on their run game, while the Dolphins pass attack is key. Neither starting quarterback is proven, but right now, give me Ryan Tannehill to lead his squad to a road win, and a perch atop the AFC for another week. MIAMI WINS

Lions @ Panthers: Still no word as to whether the Panthers will have starting QB Cam Newton back. But they’ve shown they can win without him. However, the Detroit Lions looked like a team ready to finally take the next step in week 1. They’re healthy and Matthew Stafford played a smart, mistake free game. I’m thinking Detroit moves to 2-0, even if Newton is healthy and on the field. DETROIT WINS

Falcons @ Bengals: Both teams looked pretty good on Sunday. Matt Ryan had maybe the best game of his career in the come-from-behind win over the Saints, while Andy Dalton looked solid. The difference was the play of the defenses. Sure Atlanta made the plays to win the game, but the Bengals front-seven were on point from the jump against Baltimore. Look for Cincy to get their first of many wins at home.CINCINNATI WINS

Patriots @ Vikings: Sunday was one of the single worst performances I’ve ever seen out of Tom Brady and the Pats. And I don’t think the Vikings are as good as they looked. So what gives? It’s not often New England has two bad games in a row. So as long as Brady is healthy, I’m taking the Patriots.NEW ENGLAND WINS

Saints @ Browns: The offense was great, the defense not so much for New Orleans a week ago. But expect better things at home, where it’s tough for opponents in the Superdome. Cleveland looked good in the 2nd half last week, but are without starting running back Ben Tate, and could be without superstar in the making, tight-end Jordan Cameron. Look out for a big day from wide-out Marques Colston for the Saints following a rare fumble that led to the Falcons game-winner last week. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Cowboys @ Titans: Dallas’ defense looked as good as expected… note the sarcasm. But the real concern is Tony Romo and the offense. There were no positives, and the Titans at home could prove to be too much to handle. Give me another win-less week for the NFC East squad. TENNESSEE WINS

Cardinals @ Giants: This is a tough one. The Cardinals offense wasn’t great in week 1. And the Giants defense, after the 1st quarter, did all it could to keep New York in the game against Detroit. But the G-Men’s offense looked bad and the Cardinals defense could have a field day. I wouldn’t be surprised if New York finds a way at home, but I’m still taking the Cards in this one. ARIZONA WINS

Jaguars @ Redskins: Eventually Washington will win again. But I don’t think it happens this week. Until they figure out how to get RGIII going on the ground again, this offense just isn’t the same as it was a couple years ago. The Jags defense is much improved and their young guys on offense showed something in week 1, despite losing. JACKSONVILLE WINS

Sunday 4:05/4:25PM Games

Seahawks @ Chargers: It would be weird for San Diego to start out 0-2, even after their slow start a year ago. But the Hawks are just too good. I would be very surprised if the reigning champs don’t start 2-0 this year. SEATTLE WINS

Rams @ Buccaneers: Before the season started, I would’ve said this game would be won by the team who makes the fewest mistakes. Two very good defenses, but two teams with new QBs. But the Rams are already in a downfall as they could start their 3rd string quarterback on the road in week 2. So give me a fairly easy victory for the Bucs, who could be 2-0 by weeks end. TAMPA BAY WINS

Chiefs @ Broncos: Kansas City isn’t as bad as they were good last season, so if this weren’t a road game for them, I’d give them a chance in this one. But despite almost blowing a 24-0 lead to Indianapolis, the Broncos are too good at home to pick against. DENVER WINS

Jets @ Packers: New York got a huge boost from the run game in their season opening win. The Packers were blown out by the Seahawks, but they didn’t look horrible doing so. So as good as the Jets defense is, I can’t go against Aaron Rodgers at home here. GREEN BAY WINS

Sunday Night Football

Texans @ Raiders: So JJ Watt is still really good. The Texans offense wasn’t spectacular in week 1, but it didn’t need to be. Oakland was okay on both ends to open up their season on the road. But Houston’s defense is better than the Jets, so despite being around their silver and black faithful, give me Houston to start another season 2-0. HOUSTON WINS

Bears @ 49ers: Chicago lost a heart-breaker in overtime, while the Niners defense had some fun against Dallas to open their seasons. San Fran is going to be near the top of the league all season, so give me them to keep pace with the defending champs and move to 2-0. SAN FRANCISCO WINS

Monday Night Football

Eagles @ Colts: It took a half for both of these teams to wake up from the off-season. Luckily for Philly, they were able to recover for a win, while Indy was facing the AFC Champs. Neither defense showed much in week 1, but at home, Andrew Luck has been great in his young career, so I’m looking for both sides to be 1-1 on the young season by Tuesday morning. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

Week 14 is here, and as the temperature drops, the match-ups are heating up.

Last week I went 11-5, including 3-3 on Thanksgiving.

Thursday Night Football

Houston @ Jacksonville: This inst the best game to kick off the action, with two teams with a combined record of 5-18, but it’s nice to see the Jaguars on prime-time. Early on you thought this would be an easy win for the Texans, but this once highly thought of Superbowl contender enters on a 10-game losing streak, while the Jags are playing much better in the 2nd half of the season. I have picked Houston to win far too often this season, and I am going to do it again. HOUSTON WINS

1PM Sunday Games

Minnesota @ Baltimore: The Vikings have looked a bit better of late, while the Ravens have played themselves back into the playoff picture. Adrian Peterson is really the only weapon Minnesota has, while Baltimore has relied on their defense and superb kicker to keep them in games. Give me Joe Flacco to keep his team in the hunt to defend their title. BALTIMORE WINS

Indianapolis @ Cincinnati: It’s a match-up of division leaders that boast very solid defenses. The Colts have struggled in the 2nd half of the season, while the Bengals have looked good all year. If the Colts can keep this one close, they have a chance, but if they give Andy Dalton and company a sizable early lead, I think the Bengals will clamp down and move closer to wrapping up the North. Indy is closer to a division crown in the South. CINCY WINS

Atlanta @ Green Bay: The Falcons finally snapped their losing streak, while the Packers haven’t won many games since losing Aaron Rodgers a few weeks back. Green Bay could have their starting QB back, but they won’t know until later in the week. Even if he doesn’t make it back under center, I think the Packers defense gets re-energized at home and get back on track and fight their way back to the top of the NFC North. GREEN BAY WINS

Cleveland @ New England: The Browns have gotten a lot out of receiver Josh Gordon of late, but they haven’t been able to turn it into wins. The Patriots have had a couple weeks in a row of big comeback performances. And I think their offense continues to come up big at home this week. NEW ENGLAND WINS

Oakland @ New York Jets: Two teams that aren’t very good right now. Oakland has more wins than last season, while the Jets have dropped out of a playoff spot with their 3-game losing streak. Both teams have run games that can be potent, but the Jets defense has been pretty good despite the losing. I think New York finds a way at home this week. They have to in order to have a shot at the wild card. NEW YORK WINS

Detroit @ Philadelphia: Two teams that lead their divisions (the eagles own a share) square off in Philly. Both teams have been clicking on all cylinders to climb the division ladder. Nick Foles has done nothing but win since taking over for Michael Vick. But I think the Lions are a more complete team, and despite being on the road, I think they snap the Eagles 4 game win streak. DETROIT WINS

Miami @ Pittsburgh: Two teams that have had up and down years, that still have an outside shot at a playoff berth. The Dolphins are playing better following the bully scandal, and the Steelers have played better since their 0-4 start. The Steelers have had more consistency on the ground, and I think Ben Roethlisberger is going to outplay Ryan Tannehill in this one to get the Steelers their 6th win. PITT WINS

Buffalo @ Tampa Bay: Two teams that just want to finish strong and hope to not finish last in their divisions. The Bucs are winners of 3 of their last 4 and the Bills, are not. The Bills promising start to the season ended when EJ Manuel went down early in the season. The Bucs started out the season 0-8, and have rebounded to play better in the 2nd half. That being said, I think the Bills go into Tampa and get a win on the strength of their run game. So give me the road game. BUFFALO WINS

Kansas City @ Washington: The Chiefs are on a downslide following a 9-0 start. The defense suffered a lot of injuries in week 11 against Denver and it’s shown in their 3-game losing streak. The Redskins continue to falter after a good 2012. The Chiefs offense has played very well of late, after the defense carried them in the 1st half, and I think both sides come to get to stop the slide in the nation’s capital this week. Give me the 9-3 Chiefs to get back on track. KANSAS CITY WINS

4/4:25PM Sunday Games

Tennessee @ Denver: The Titans are playing for a wildcard spot, the Broncos are looking to move one step closer to a bye and the AFC West title. The Titans defense has been pretty good this season, but their offense is just not enough to match Peyton Manning and all his weapons. DENVER WINS

St. Louis @ Arizona: These two NFC West foes boast very good defenses. And both have improved greatly from a year ago. But I think the Cardials offense is much more consistent, and with a better chance at a playoff spot, I think the veteran Carson Palmer gets his team a home win. ARIZONA WINS

New York Giants @ San Diego: A couple of 5-7 teams square off in California this weekend. The Giants have shaken off a horibble start to the season to win 5 of their last 6. The Chargers have been up and down all season, something we’ve grown accustom with Philip Rivers led teams. This game not only keeps the winner in the hunt for a playoff spot, it also means something more, dating back to the 2004 draft when Eli Manning was drafted number 1 by San Diego and didn’t want to play there. So who wins? Give me the Giants to continue their comeback from 0-6. NEW YORK WINS

Seattle @ San Francisco: If the 49ers want any chance of winning the division, they have to win this game. Both teams are coming off big wins at home. The Niners made easy work of the Rams, while the Seahawks made a statement to the whole league that they are true Superbowl contenders. And for that reason, give me the Hawks to continue to move closer to wrapping up the number 1 seed in the NFC. SEATTLE WINS

Sunday Night Football

Carolina @ New Orleans: One of the better games you will see all regular season. It’s a battle for the NFC South. A top flight defense and a team on an 8 game win streak in one corner. A playoff perennial who was embarrassed in prime-time last week, that looks to rebound in their own home-field advantage in the other. Who prevails? The Panthers have had a number of close calls during the 8-game win-streak, and the Saints don’t lose at home often. So I see New Orleans taking this one, with a very different result possible when the two face off in Carolina. NEW ORLEANS WINS

Monday Night Football

Dallas @ Chicago: This is an interesting ending to week 14. The Cowboys are on the upswing, the Bears, on the down. But neither team has a shut down defense, and both have run games that can go off at any moment. The Boys don’t have a playoff spot locked down, and the Bears are still in the hunt for one. Tony Romo has never been very good in December, but I think he leads his team to a road win in this one. DALLAS WINS